I install wood burning stoves. I've got a job coming up and they're insisting it has to be completed on the day. Issue is I've got to render a fireplace opening. It's a very large hole and won't be very close to the stove for this reason, so the heat isn't a big issue. But what is an issue is I usually do these type of jobs over two days. Day one opening up the hole, fitting hearth, liner etc and applying scratch coat.. Day 2 plastering wall and applying final coat of render, putting stove in to position.

But.. I've got a problem with th scratch coat situation. Do I just use one coat directly on to the bricks, or is there another option? Could I use rapid set cement for the scratch coat? Is it possible to render directly on to hardiebacker? If so I could line the fireplace with that and render.

I've explained. What i said is that I'll have to do it in one coat and it'll be likely to crack as it'll dry too quickly. Still they're insistent that any crack is less of a problem than me taking more than a day. Though they know it'll crack, I'd still prefer to do all I can to prevent it happening!

They're going on a 90 day cruise. I had no availability except on the day before they leave. They want it ready to use when they return. I wasn't fussed about doing the job so worked out my quote and added £700 on top so they would go with someone else.. But they didn't. As with anything like this I'll get in writing their acceptance that there could be cracks in the render. I'm just hoping someone can tell me if rapid set would be suitable as a scratch, because that's what I'm going to try if I don't hear it's a problem.

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